Great Dates in the Great Outdoors

Romance doesn't always happen indoors by candlelight

Hiking on Mount Washington

Raymond Gehman/Corbis

Test Your Ardor and Adrenaline with a Winter Trek up Mt. Washington

Thrill seekers in the throws of a budding romance will bond like never before in a winter hike up New Hampshire’s highest peak, Mount Washington. On this daylong winter adventure brace yourselves to be dazzled by the snowcapped peaks (and possibly gale force winds). After, warm up with hot cocoa by the blazing fire Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. If your hiking experience isn’t as strong as your love, you’ll need some help on this trip: Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School in North Conway offers guided treks up Mount Washington, and is strongly advised for beginners.—Keith Mulvihill

Plan for Sand, Surf, and Snuggling in San Diego

Start your romantic evening in Encinitas, about an hour before sunset, with a stroll in the lush gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship, an ashram founded in the 1930s and perfectly set atop a cliff overlooking the sea. Then, take the wood stairs down to Swami’s Beach (just next door) and watch the surfers do their tricks (or join them). When you’re through, drive a few miles north on Highway 101 to Carlsbad, and spend the rest of your date cozy and close in front of a fire pit on the patio of Coyote Bar and Grill.—KM

Hold Hands and Skate

Nothing is as romantic in winter as bundling up, pulling on a pair of skates, and making fools of yourself on the ice, so just embrace the cheese. And these skating rinks around the world will give you a good reason stay out in the cold: just so you have an excuse to keep each other warm.

Camp Out Under the Stars

A brilliant celestial display might just be the only thing that could make you want to look anywhere else besides each other's eyes. Book a room at these great hotels for stargazing at the stars, or find a place to cozy up together and watch the northern lights.

Use Fear and Adrenaline to Bond

Nothing like the feel of an active volcano beneath your feet to make you realize the value of life—and love. Brave a hike on one of these five cones, and you'll come down the other side a closer couple. It works on The Amazing Race, right?